how much to tip in the dinning rooms?

[johare]

Okay, so I didn't solve anything. All I am saying is that when you go on a cruise, that is part of it. Fair or not.

I would rather see something like a Sandals resort- all inclusive. No tips, etc and pay the crew members better. But since it's not that way, the right thing to do is to tip them whether we use them or not.

Well, this is one thing we can agree on. Since these so called 'gratuities' really are nothing more than a hidden additional fee, I'd much rather see them included in the price I'm quoted when booking the cruise. That would leave me free leave extra tips for the employees I feel deserve it and would let me feel like I was actually doing something special for them, rather than paying the part of their salary that Disney didn't want to pay.

 

[cali4niacruisin]

Well, this is one thing we can agree on. Since these so called 'gratuities' really are nothing more than a hidden additional fee, I'd much rather see them included in the price I'm quoted when booking the cruise. That would leave me free leave extra tips for the employees I feel deserve it and would let me feel like I was actually doing something special for them, rather than paying the part of their salary that Disney didn't want to pay.

I was having the same thought, so I guess we agree on at least one thing...the basic tips should be included in the price. If anyone feels they should give more for outstanding service, they can choose to do that. My only concern is that the service levels could suffer if the staff don't think they have a reason to keep up the high levels we have come to appreciate.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

For the most part, I agree with you, johare. It is pretty much a hidden service fee. I don't like it, but that is the way it is.

But I know that up front and I am going anyway and I'll pay at least the recommended tip. And not because I am stupid, but because I am lucky enough to afford such a luxury. Yes, I work and save for this vacation, but I have it a lot easier than some of the cruise workers.

Now, if you want to do something about changing it, I'm on board for that.

 

[atakaratemom]

I think that many people probably question the gratuity process prior to going on a first cruise. Before we went on our DCL cruise this summer, I had no idea what to expect. All I can say is that I was not at all expecting the absolutely outstanding service we received. I can't compare it to anything I've ever experienced in any hotel or restaurant. Our servers became like family by the end of the trip. They knew our likes and dislikes. They cut my children's food and poured their ketchup in the shape of Mickey Mouse. They brought extra appetizers and desserts without us asking. Our main server did magic tricks at the table that mesmerized my kids. At the Pirate party, when our server was on deck setting up the buffet, he saw that my daughter was about to miss the fireworks and he stopped what he was doing and led her to where she could see the show. If the current gratuity process leads to this level of service then I for one would not want to see it changed.

All I can say is that I went on the cruise expecting to pay the minimum suggested gratuity, and by the time I left I could not have imagined leaving only the minimum amount. And no, we did not eat every meal in the dining room. We had a dinner and brunch at Palo and generally ate our lunches at Plutos. For us, it was simply a matter of paying very deserving, wonderful people what they rightfully earned for the outstanding service they provided.

Mary

 

[lbgraves]

So, you understand paying less for bad service, but not paying less for no service?

That is your choice to not use the dining rooms. The servers have been assigned a certain number of guests to take care of. It is not fair for them to be "stuck" with guests who do not wish to eat in the dining room for the week...or the majority of it...and don't feel the need to pay them the tip. All of the servers wait on everyone on the ship during breakfast & lunch in topsiders & the other dining rooms that are open. You do not tip each & every server who takes care of you during those meals. This is just the way it is done. If you don't want to going to the dining room for dinner then you should inform the dining manager about this so that the servers who have been assigned to you can be given the opportunity to take care of other guests & receive an income for what they do instead of being stiffed after a week of hard work on the ship.

 

[paulmc80]

Fine if you do not wish follow DCL gratuity guidlines. But, would then be nice to follow the customary tipping guidlines for table service in the USA, between 10% and 20% or so per meal. Estimating the cost of the meal you're being served. Even estimating on the low end is fine.

 

[Jay045]

does anyone know how many people 1 server and asst server serve?

 

[DIS NURSE]

BUMP!

 

[pppiglet]

Wog....could you pass the popcorn over here please?

 

[mom+3girls]

Therefore, if a head server is assigned 30 people to serve for dinner, but only 15 show up and pay for it, they only receive half the money they were expected to earn.

The suggested tip amounts are a guideline, and the guideline is based on how many days you will be on the ship. Obviously you should adjust accordingly for either exceptionally good or bad service. But, IMO, you should not base your tip on how often you used the services, but rather how good the services were when you received them.

I just did some math, if a server is assigned 30 guest per cruise and everyone tips him/her 25.75 the suggested amount, he would be making $772.50 per 7 day crusie, that is $3090.00 per 4 week month, that would total $40,170 for 52 weeks. Does anyone know if taxes are taken out of their income?

I will be crusing, Sept 10, same cruise as the OP, there will be 4 of us in my party and I plan on starting the cruise tipping what is suggested, more for great service less for bad service.
I plan on being in the dining room, as much as possible, I am a single mom, and I want to be on vacation as well. If I eat at Topsiders, I will be doing the serving and I don't want to do that. I alrady do that 24/7.

 

[johare]

That is your choice to not use the dining rooms. The servers have been assigned a certain number of guests to take care of. It is not fair for them to be "stuck" with guests who do not wish to eat in the dining room for the week...or the majority of it...and don't feel the need to pay them the tip. All of the servers wait on everyone on the ship during breakfast & lunch in topsiders & the other dining rooms that are open. You do not tip each & every server who takes care of you during those meals. This is just the way it is done. If you don't want to going to the dining room for dinner then you should inform the dining manager about this so that the servers who have been assigned to you can be given the opportunity to take care of other guests & receive an income for what they do instead of being stiffed after a week of hard work on the ship.

That's actually good advice, however would the dining manager really be able to do anything about it? Since the same dining room servers follow you each day to whatever dining room you're eating in, would they be able to find another table for them? I guess if you have the early seating they might be able to move someone up who had a late seating and wanted to eat earlier, but that would have a ripple effect and leave their table empty at the late seating. After thinking about it some more, I agree that it might not be fair to not pay (can't use the word tip anymore ) the servers if you don't show up for dinner, however on the other hand, it's also not fair that they get paid the exact same amount for doing no work as they would if they waited on you all evening. Therefore, my new 'rule' is that if I don't use their services on a particular day, they will still get 50% of the recommended 'gratuity' for that day. Since excellent service on other days could result in them exceeding 100% of the recommended amount, that still gives them the opportunity to break even.

 

[johare]

Fine if you do not wish follow DCL gratuity guidlines. But, would then be nice to follow the customary tipping guidlines for table service in the USA, between 10% and 20% or so per meal. Estimating the cost of the meal you're being served. Even estimating on the low end is fine.

That would work. For our family of 5, the recommending dining tips are $36.56 per day. If I value breakfast at $50, lunch at $75 and dinner at $120 I get a total of $245. 15 % of $245 = $36.75 per day if I tip per meal based on those prices. Seems like it would work out.

 

[johare]

I just did some math, if a server is assigned 30 guest per cruise and everyone tips him/her 25.75 the suggested amount, he would be making $772.50 per 7 day crusie, that is $3090.00 per 4 week month, that would total $40,170 for 52 weeks. Does anyone know if taxes are taken out of their income?

I will be crusing, Sept 10, same cruise as the OP, there will be 4 of us in my party and I plan on starting the cruise tipping what is suggested, more for great service less for bad service.
I plan on being in the dining room, as much as possible, I am a single mom, and I want to be on vacation as well. If I eat at Topsiders, I will be doing the serving and I don't want to do that. I alrady do that 24/7.

Does anyone know how many guests a server is assigned per cruise? 30 seems sort of low since that would only be 15 guests per seating.

And what about the dining room head server? Assume there are three head servers per each of the three main restaurants and that the ship sails approximately 90% full with 2100 passengers. On a 7 day cruise, the recommended gratuity for the head server is $6.50. 2100 passengers all paying the recommended $6.50 would give a total of $13,650 and if you divide that among 9 head servers, that's about $1,517 for each one of them....per week. That works out to an annual salary of about $80K. Not too bad.

 

[BuzzyB]

Approximately 20% of guests do not tip anything at all.
If you choose to eat elsewhere, other than the dining rooms, then you should tell your servers. Otherwise they will wait around for 2hrs - incase you turn up! They have very long days and dont need to be kept waiting around for guests.

 

[burma]

not that I want to get into this peein' contest here but we tip the min suggested in the envelopes and I personally hand deliver extra gratuities to those that have gone above and beyond the call. On the 4 day wonder we added to almost everyone if I remember correctly. I was perplexed about tipping the staff in the kids clubs but now that I know they have to pool the money I will be bringin either walmart or target cards with me in Feb. I did not encounter anyone that was not working like a dog, and all were working above and beyond what I would have expected. Its not the Four Seasons but they can come real close sometimes

What I really want to know is TUX OR NO TUX

 

[Jules123]

[burma]not that I want to get into this peein' contest here

 

[TheWog]

Wog....could you pass the popcorn over here please?

You got it! Extra butter? We are having a special on jujubees today.

 

[TheWog]

i was wundering how many people are in a dinning room? at a table?
and how many people or tables does a server and asst server serve?

just curious, I never noticed how many tables or people they serve, just wundering thank

This amount can vary depending on the server. Some servers get more people/tables and one would think more tips. Others, newer employees or on review may have less tables. We were at a table for 8. There were other tables around us for 8 or 10 and our server had 4 tables I believe. So between 30-40 would be a guess and only a guess. You can also find some tables for 4 and 6 as well.

 

[Disney with Triplets]

The cruise line knows that a certain number of cruisers aren't going to eat in the dining rooms and staff accordingly. Waiters are taking the risk every week that some people are not going to eat dinner in the dining room and aren't going to tip. Heck, some people are going to eat in the dining room every night and still not tip...

I understand the argument that each person is eating somewhere and that the waiters and assistants are working somewhere several meals per day so whereby tipping the wait staff covering your dining room dinner table whether you eat there or not is 1) compensating them for being available to serve you whether you choose to eat there or not and 2) indirectly compensating the wait staff for breakfast, lunch, buffets, etc. that you are enjoying.

I choose, right or wrong, to continue to use gratuities in recognition of service and will tip accordingly.

We are normally very good tippers and only remember one time when that the servers "only" received the minimum recommended amount when we received "just ok" service - we usually are blown away at the level of service and tip additional amounts in recognition of that. I just don't buy into treating tips as "hidden service charges" because the wait staff is on reserve for us. Yes, the staff is assigned a certain number of tables, but that number is inflated to account for those who don't eat in the dining rooms.

 

[IrishCowboy]

On average, each serving team is assigned 18 guests per seating. Works out to 36 guests per cruise.

I have also heard from many different servers that about 20% don't tip at all. That's why you see so many empty tables on Friday night.

I've spoken with servers who were college professors, engineers and other white collar jobs but came to DCL because they could make more money and support their families back home.

These folks work hard for their money and spend six months at a time away from their families. I think they earn every penny.